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Beale in cotton wool for Waratahs

Darren Walton

The NSW Waratahs are unconcerned that injured playmaker Kurtley Beale may not train this week before tackling the Blues in Super Rugby's Anzac Day blockbuster at Eden Park.

NSW coach Michael Cheika has placed Beale in cotton wool, giving the midfield provider every chance to overcome an ankle injury in time to take the field on Friday.

Beale is considered a 70-30 chance of playing but is unlikely to train before the team flies out for Auckland on Thursday.

With Cheika already giving his entire squad two days off after Saturday night's tough win over the Bulls - which followed a draining three-week tour of South Africa and Perth - the Waratahs were only ever going to squeeze in two team runs before facing the Blues.

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But flanker Michael Hooper said the short turnaround wasn't a problem.

"It's not too common for us but we're fine with dealing with it," Hooper said on Tuesday.

"We'll rip into the next two days of training and get over to New Zealand.

"It's getting to that point of the season where we've trained, we're game ready, so it's about ticking off the knowledge during the week and flying into a game."

Beale's importance to the Waratahs was on display once more against the Bulls when his slick combination with five-eighth Bernard Foley set up a sizzling try for Israel Folau just 28 seconds into the superstar fullback's long-awaited comeback from a throat injury.

Halfback Nick Phipps has the best view in the house of Beale working his magic with Foley and Folau and said Beale's return to Sydney after two years at the Melbourne Rebels was a major factor in the Waratahs' emergence as genuine title contenders.

"He's been great," Phipps said.

"Him and Bernie working the 10 and 12 together, you noticed a wealth of knowledge there and he's really committed to the team and the boys loving playing with him.

"That try that Izzy scored, you just saw him straighten up, square up, put (Ashley-Cooper) away and Swoop was able to offload ... just little smart things ... he's just so good for us.

"He's always there, offering us chat in the breaks - telling us where we need to go, where the holes are opening up.

"So that offers a lot to us and he's one of our senior leaders in the team."

In a boost for the Waratahs, powerhouse No.8 Wycliff Palu is back available after missing the win over the Bulls following the death of his father this month.